This was a great day for Australian golf. Mostly, it was a great day for Adam Scott

On top of the world: Adam Scott celebrates. Photo: Reuters

In clubhouses and lounge rooms, they will play the putt with which Adam Scott clinched the Masters - his Masters, and Australia's Masters - forever. Then they will play it again, but rewind the tape to 30 minutes before that final putt dropped, and consider the moment that made the man.

Advertisement

Scott is sitting in the scorer's hut completing his post-round accountancy and, perhaps, wondering whether to put the framed card in the trophy room or above the fireplace. Instinctively, he looks up at a screen upon which Angel Cabrera, an amiable character who more resembles a plumber than an elite sportsman, is hitting an exquisite approach to the final green.

The Argentine has just ripped the green jacket from Scott's shoulders. Imagine, just for a moment, the weight that has descended upon Scott. The accumulated burden of his own great, but as-yet-unfulfilled talent. The still fresh memories of the four-shot lead squandered in the final four holes of last year's British Open. The Augusta demons that haunted his occasional mentor, and fellow Queenslander, Greg Norman. The failure of any Australian to set a place at Augusta National's champions' dinner.

First Australian winner: Adam Scott. Photo: Getty Images

Only minutes earlier, Scott had won the Masters. The player for whom putting had been golfing kryptonite had holed a curling downhill teaser of a birdie attempt to take the lead. He had celebrated wildly, like the champion he was. There could be no Larry Mize or Nick Faldo to play comic book villain in dodgy pants. Surely?

Now, suddenly, Scott was being asked to overcome his deflation and win the Masters again. It is a tortuous test of character not even Augusta's tournament committee, which presents greens slicker than bowling alleys, would devise.

Amid the mayhem after Cabrera's brilliant approach, Scott shrugged and returned to the forensic examination of his scorecard. But you can only wonder what crossed his mind. Or how his heart must have raced when Cabrera almost holed a chip at the first play-off hole, and when the Argentinian's ball hung over the hole at the second. How did Scott compose himself sufficiently to hole the extra-time putt that will define him as a competitor?

Winner: Adam Scott. Photo: Getty Images

It is a stroke that will also set Scott's personal record straight - and not merely in a statistical sense. Scott's victory demonstrates a player sometimes cast as a handsome, well-spoken dilettante with a taste for good-looking women and the European lifestyle is made of stern stuff. It illuminates the dedicated professional who harboured an intense desire to achieve his sole objective: a major victory. Such triumphs, the cliche has it, begin on the back nine on Sunday.

Scott's victory at Augusta began in the moments after his shattering capitulation at Royal Lytham and St Anne's. It was born of the mixture of dignity, stoicism and resolve with which he accepted the most shattering of defeats. Although, even then, the good humour with which Scott greeted the less welcome of Kipling’s imposters made you wonder if he was too compliant, whether he lacked the tenacity to match his brilliant swing.

There can be no question now. In the final round, Scott first clung to the leading group with great skill and considerable good fortune. His approach to the 13th green could have – probably should have – rolled into Rae’s Creek. Instead, it nestled on a treacherous slope – the stroke of luck Norman never seemed to get.

Aussie Adam Scott wins the US Masters

Australian Adam Scott has won the 2013 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club after he made a birdie putt on the second sudden death playoff hole to defeat Angel Cabrera of Argentina. Photo: Andrew Redington

But Scott made his own luck with that liquid swing, and sealed his fate in the least likely manner: two pressure-laden, career-defining putts. The torture the Queenslander has experienced on the green is evident in the vast collection of putters he discarded before he adopted the controversial long implement. Whether using a long putter or a mop handle, that Scott was able to control his nerves and produce two pure strokes will have felt sweet indeed.

Graciously, and rightly, Scott praised Norman’s role. ‘‘There’s one guy who inspired a nation, and that’s him,’’ he said, dedicating a part of his own victory to the player who deserved a green jacket more than any other.

As humble in victory as he had been in defeat, he also mentioned the encouragement given by Cabrera. At the 2009 Presidents Cup, Cabrera had pulled the then struggling Scott aside and told him he was ‘‘a great, great player’’. One of golf’s great charms is that, more often than not, conqueror and conquered celebrate together.

There will be considerable satisfaction for Scott’s caddie Steve Williams, the Kiwi who parted company with Tiger Woods in acrimonious circumstances. Williams has been cast as a snarling Rottweiler. But, at a time like this, he is a man to have in your corner. From first hole to 20th, Williams was in Scott’s ear providing advice, and not letting any of the demons of Royal Lytham re-emerge. Maybe a sleeve from the green jacket belongs across the Tasman.

But this was a great day for Australian golf. Mostly, it was a great day for Adam Scott. A day when a nice guy finished first.

90 comments so far

Absolutely Fabulous Adam........A great Aussie with a great demeanor. Now lets get a couple more majors mate.

Commenter

Bazza

Date and time

April 15, 2013, 12:22PM

Bloody Legend

Commenter

Justincrdable

Location

SYD

Date and time

April 15, 2013, 6:02PM

Magic moments don't come much better.

Let's hope there's a street parade held in Brisbane in his honour.

Great stuff Scotty.

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

April 15, 2013, 12:26PM

He's from the Gold Coast - we can't have Brisbane claiming him :)

Commenter

Mikka

Date and time

April 15, 2013, 1:19PM

@ Mikka....to be technical, he was actually born in Adelaide...but we are all used to Queenslanders claiming League players...so... lol

Commenter

omg

Location

reality land

Date and time

April 15, 2013, 2:25PM

Fair point but he was schooled on the Coast and learnt his trade at Sanctuary Cove....

Commenter

Mikka

Date and time

April 15, 2013, 5:56PM

As pointed out in this article, Adam Scott was incredibly dignified when he lost the British Open after not playing too bad. His vindication is not really a vindication, as he had already showed on that occassioin that he is a great player and even stronger person, which is really more important than any trophy. And he proved it again with his comments about Greg Norman. Having said that, the previous experience makes today's victory more compelling, and more nerve wracking as well. WELL DONE Adam, amazing play under incredible pressure.

Commenter

Robbmck

Date and time

April 15, 2013, 12:44PM

Having viewed most of the action over 4 days, it was a jump up moment when Scotty sank that last putt. It was good for my sense of anxiety as well. Great that he shed the post British Open doldrums. Also great was the scene of the two warriers walking to the sign off room arm in arm and both laughing. Mr Cabrera could be an angel after all.

Commenter

Fredfred

Location

Bonnet Bay

Date and time

April 15, 2013, 12:45PM

Suspect Scott & Williams (on the bag) will be a formidable duo in the years to come in world golf. Rivetting early-morning television......and Scotty's swing....man, just beautiful.Great win for Aussie golf as Master's Hoodoo now firmly in the bunker.

Commenter

Senrab

Location

Hong Kong

Date and time

April 15, 2013, 12:48PM

4th option: Cathy Freeman being the first person to ever light the Olympic flame and win gold at the same games, under immense pressure, everyone in the country cheering for her, hair on the back of your neck still raises when you watch it 12 years later, that gets my vote...America's Cup struggles to make top 10 in hindsight (even after watching Australian Story)

15 Apr
Staff at the southeast Queensland schools where Adam Scott spent his childhood have remembered the new US Masters champion - Australia's first - as a quiet, studious stringbean with plenty of grit.